the president is headed back from hawaii tonight. he will be back tomorrow to take part in more discussions over the so-called fiscal cliff with the new year's deadline looming in several days. the senate is due back in session tomorrow. they have several items on their docket. they have defense spending and perhaps fiscal cliff matters. the house is due in tomorrow as well. we do not have their schedule. both bodies of congress in over the weekend as well. here are the numbers to call for open phones. republicans, 202-585-3881. democrats, 202-585-3880. independents, 202-585-3882. "the richmond times dispatch" -- host: a lot more to tell you about in the papers today, including this piece about john kerry, the man who the president has nominated to become secretary of state. now the outgoing massachusetts senator. they go on in this piece in "usa today" -- harder choices loom. syria being a more intractable problem than libya. a tougher stance with china through the a share rebalancing . is now the time to me sure a firmer line does